Criminal Justice News

Thursday, April 11, 2013

SCRANTON,
Pa. – U.S. Marshal Martin J. Pane announced today the arrest of John Caro in Medellin,
Colombia. Caro was being sought by the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task
Force for the attempted murder of a female in late December 2006.

Caro,
29, was taken into custody Monday in Medellin. He was apprehended based upon a
provisional arrest warrant that seeks his extradition to the United States.
Acting on information provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, Colombian law
enforcement officials located the fugitive at an undisclosed location in
Medellin, where he was arrested on charges from Lackawanna County. Caro had
been on the run from law enforcement for more than six years.

On
Dec. 31, 2006, the Pennsylvania State Police responded to investigate a
shooting incident in Lackawanna County. State Police learned an individual,
later identified as Caro, got into an argument with a female at the Planet
Pocono Gentlemen’s Club in White Haven. The victim and two others left the
establishment in White Haven, followed by Caro. After traveling northbound on
Interstate 81 for a lengthy period of time, it is alleged that Caro pulled up
alongside the victim’s vehicle and fired a shot at her from his moving vehicle.
The victim was struck in the face and neck area. Caro continued traveling
northbound on Interstate 81. The victim was taken by ambulance to a nearby
hospital.

Shortly
after the arrest warrant was issued, the Pennsylvania State Police requested
the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force in the Middle
District of Pennsylvania. Based upon the seriousness and violence of the crime,
this fugitive case was given high priority.

In
2007, the Pennsylvania State Police placed Caro on their statewide Ten Most
Wanted List.

U.S.
Marshals based in Scranton worked diligently throughout this investigation,
developing many leads and receiving numerous tips. Collateral leads were sent
throughout the country in an attempt to identify and locate Caro. This included
investigative leads to U.S. Marshals Service personnel in Connecticut, New
York, Massachusetts, Arizona and North Carolina.

In
February 2012, Caro was profiled on America’s Most Wanted. The initial
broadcast and subsequent re-airings resulted in many tips. Information
developed through America’s Most Wanted brought USMS investigators closer to
locating Caro.

Subsequently,
U.S. Marshals developed information that Caro may have fled to Colombia. The
international aspect of this case, which resulted in Caro’s arrest in Colombia,
was coordinated by the U.S. Marshals Service International Investigations
Branch with the assistance of INTERPOL, Department of Justice Office of
International Affairs, Diplomatic Security Service and law enforcement
authorities in Colombia. Caro is expected to remain in custody pending a
decision by the Colombian Supreme Court on his extradition.

“The primary purpose of the U.S. Marshals
Service Fugitive Task Force is to pull together resources from multiple
agencies and apply their specialized skills to locate and apprehend violent
offenders,” U.S. Marshal Pane said. “Fugitives like Caro are why this task
force exists. No matter how long it takes, there is no place to hide once this
team of experienced investigators is on your trail. The collaborative effort by
the Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Lackawanna County
Sheriff’s Office is why we were able to locate this fugitive. It is my sincere
hope the victim of this crime can gain some measure of comfort now that the
alleged assailant has been apprehended.”

“I
greatly appreciate the outstanding work and cooperation from the U.S. Marshals
Service in capturing this dangerous fugitive,” said Pennsylvania State Police
Commissioner Colonel Frank Noonan. “This is certainly another excellent example
of international law enforcement collaboration and teamwork.”

The
concept of all USMS-led fugitive task forces is to seek out and arrest the
nation’s most dangerous alleged offenders.